Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Linda Sarsour selected as CUNY graduation speaker sparks outcry
Foes of Muslim activist Linda Sarsour held a rally Thursday to decry her selection as graduation speaker at the City University of New York, accusing her of supporting terrorism and chanting, "Surely CUNY can do better!" Published May 25, 2017
Betsy DeVos defends leaner education budget, says Obama’s big spending had ‘zero results’
A House Democrat denounced her budget proposal as "cruel" and "heartless," but Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stood her ground at Wednesday's hearing, arguing that students would be better served by innovative school-choice programs than more federal spending. Published May 24, 2017
Heidi Heitkamp spurns anti-Trump resistance as ‘a waste of my time’
Democrats are salivating at the prospect of tying Republicans to President Trump in 2018, but at least one vulnerable Democrat is distancing herself from the anti-Trump resistance. Published May 23, 2017
Betsy DeVos Trump’s school-choice expansion ‘most ambitious’
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Monday that the Trump administration will spearhead a historic school-choice initiative aimed at a "transformation" of the nation's "closed and antiquated education system." Published May 22, 2017
California Democrats push single-payer health-care bill
Establishing a single-payer system in California would cost $400 billion -- more than twice the size of the state budget -- but the steep price tag failed to deter Democrats pursuing universal health coverage. Published May 22, 2017
Bob Schieffer of CBS accused of trying to ‘normalize’ Donald Trump by praising speech
Former CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer came under fire Sunday for praising President Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia, prompting accusations that the veteran newsman was trying to "normalize" the president. Published May 22, 2017
Jerry Brown’s California ‘freeloaders’ hit back on tax hike
California Gov. Jerry Brown may have been trying to shame opponents of his gas-and-car tax increase by calling them "freeloaders," but so far the barb has backfired. Published May 21, 2017
80 percent of news stories were critical of Donald Trump: Harvard study
President Trump has insisted that his press coverage has been historically negative, and a newly released Harvard journalism study backs him up. Published May 21, 2017
Denver snuffs annual 4/20 pot rally for three years over trash, noise
Denver has extinguished the annual 4/20 marijuana rally at Civic Center Park for three years and fined organizers $20,000 after numerous complaints about trash and noise emanating from last month's celebration. Published May 21, 2017
Trump press coverage set ‘new standard for negativity’: Harvard study
President Trump has insisted that his press coverage has been historically negative, and a newly released Harvard journalism study backs him up. Published May 19, 2017
Dakota Access pipeline protesters set up new camp in Iowa to back farmers
The last thing Iowa County farmers expected to crop up amid their well-groomed corn and soybean fields was a permanent pipeline protest camp, given that the county has no pipeline. Published May 18, 2017
Northwestern president joins vigil for victims outside convicted terrorist’s campus speech
Northwestern University president Morton O. Schapiro joined a vigil late Monday for two slain Israeli students outside a forum featuring Rasmea Odeh, who served time for the terrorist attack that killed them. Published May 16, 2017
No takers yet on French President Macron’s plea for climate scientists to move to France
French President Emmanuel Macron urged U.S. climate scientists during his campaign to move to France, but so far it doesn't appear that anyone has taken him up on his offer. Published May 16, 2017
Kellyanne Conway blasts ‘absurd’ media claim that she took Trump job ‘for the money’
White House counsel Kellyanne Conway Tuesday dismissed as "absurd" allegations made on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that she only took the job working for President Trump for the money. Published May 16, 2017
Mark Hamill’s autograph law irks bookstores
California booksellers are striking back against a newly enacted law inspired by "Star Wars" icon Mark Hamill's crusade against fake memorabilia, warning that the well-intentioned measure comes with a dark side. Published May 15, 2017
Californians rebel against gas, car tax hike
In California, a state known for its love of driving, high-priced gasoline and history of tax revolts, a rebellion is brewing against Gov. Jerry Brown's massive gas-and-car tax increase. Published May 11, 2017
Heath Mello’s abortion politics fail in Omaha, Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. | The Democratic Party's big tent has shrunk a little with the defeat of Heath Mello, whose failed bid for Omaha mayor exposed a rift in the party on abortion and the viability of the progressive wing in middle America. Published May 10, 2017
Betsy DeVos delivers graduation speech over boos of students at raucous ceremony
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday plowed through the first commencement address of her tenure over a noisy chorus of boos during a raucous ceremony at Bethune-Cookman University. Published May 10, 2017
Heath Mello loses Omaha mayor’s race after anti-Trump theme, abortion message flop
The Democratic Party's big tent has shrunk a little with the defeat of Heath Mello, whose failed bid for Omaha mayor exposed a rift in the party on abortion and the viability of the progressive wing in middle America. Published May 10, 2017
Cory Gardner called by North Korea ‘human dirt’ with no body hair
North Korea denounced Sen. Cory Gardner as human dirt who has lost all body hair after the Colorado Republican last week referred to the communist nation's leader as a "wack job." Published May 8, 2017
